Marlene Almeida's Terra Viva at 36th Bienal de São Paulo

Brazilian artist Marlene Almeida presents 'Terra Viva' and 'Museu das terras brasileiras' at the 36th Bienal de São Paulo, curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung. The works combine earth pigments, geological samples, and artistic practice, reflecting her long-term engagement with soil as material and concept. Almeida, who began collecting earth samples from across Brazil, has amassed thousands of specimens, which she processes into pigments and presents as installations. Her practice evolved from painting to a broader exploration of land as art, history, politics, and ecology. The exhibition includes a laboratory-like display of materials and a sculpture 'Terra-devir' with painted fabric strips. Almeida's work also references the ephemeral art of Sérvulo Esmeraldo, who taught her that transformation is a form of permanence. The interview details her methodology, from visiting archaeological sites like Pedra Pintada de Umari in Bananeiras, Paraíba, to her book 'As Cores da Terra'. The 36th Bienal de São Paulo runs in 2025.